dont mean to beat a dead horse ! but i cant seem to find any common ground on a 97 12'er

You can see my sig and i live and use the truck at around 6000' in colorado, needles to say it's 80 deg one day and 20 the next. keeping all this in mind any suggestions for pump timing?

17 deg seems to be an "all time favorite" if you will

 

Personally, I've never set them over 14.5 deg. Gives great driveability, still good bottom end, and usually about 4 degrees better than what it had from the factory.

 

I always set '97s to 16.5.
Makes for more power and better mpgs

 

good or bads to either of these suggestions, doing it on thursday !

 

where you at in colorado? I am west of canon city I set mine at 14 then went to 16 did not notice much difference except I lost a little down low, mileage was the same might run slightly better on the top end but hardly noticable.

 

Isnt 15.5 optimal for all diesel engines? I have the 160 pump and planned on doing 16.5 because I guess advancing helps starting and mileage. Does the planning have different affects on the different pumps?
Thanks.

 

I'm between larkspur and monument,

as far as a "optimal" point-I'm learning that it also somewhat depends on which plate and whos plate you have as to where you want pump timing, you see now is where the "math" part comes in and not just throwing parts at it. oh I guess we could but what fun would that be?
chris

 

When it comes to setting static pump timing I have always been told to run as much advance as your application will allow.......the 16* range seems to work well for most but there are some flatlanders who run empty that get away with 19-20* - if you tow you can't run that high........just remember that advancing the static pump timing usually increases cylinder pressures so the harder you work the engine the less total timing it will accept without running into problems...........I would say you are safe at 16-16.5* if you tow heavy............as for losing bottom end power, I think it depends on the rest of the bombing on the motor, some guys lose power on the bottom but I lost nothing on the bottom going to 16*

 

Would this be good for a 96 also?

 

Yes 16 works good on an 96. I have mine set there and i pull daily with it.

 

I was wondering if the tools referred to in the TSB 18-10-94 Rev. A ....timing kit are specialized or if you can use regular tools. I have some dial indicator adapters....does anyone know the thread pitch off hand? Do you need a delivery valve socket or can you just use one out of the tool box or fab something up? It looks like they use just a regular gear puller? Is the baring tool necessary or can you turn the engine by the alternator? Also , I'd just like to verify that I am reading the chart right...for 16* the pump lift setting would be 6.4 mm? Thanks.

 

I run have run 19.5 for about a year now and gross around 22000 alot. I do gross 28000 some and used to gross 34000 some and have never had a problem. The truck does have head studs but the right foot has alot to do with how the motor holds together. I've had the hx40 up in the mid 50's psi to but backed it down to 41 tops.

 

My tuner recommended 18* for this 95 12v. I was a bit concerned about load on the head gasket but he says hes done a bunch like this and it runs well at this timing. Id have set it to 16.5 and worry a little less. Ive seen other guys on this site running high timing also with no ill effects. No idea what timing will do to fuel economy and power. Im assuming higher timing moves more of the power up top in the rev range?

 

You can get by with regular tools except for the DV socket. A holder for your dial indicator can be made from an oil drain plug like the one that comes with your truck, the threads are the same as the ones on the DV. Drill a couple holes in the plug, tap the one in side for a set screw.

Turning the alternator works but only turns one way, if you overshoot you have to go all the way back around, that's where the barring tool is nice.
I made mine by welding the gear off a dead starter motor to a cheap socket.

 

Thanks Infidel....exactly the answers I was lookin for. Alot of times I get a specialty tool (Harley is good for this) and its something you can make yourself, plus they are usually overpriced.